Americas

The US subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems received their first production order for the Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) with the Continuously Computed Impact Point (CCIP) algorithm for the US Navy’s fleet of MH-60S helicopters. Valued at $50 million, work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas and completed by June 2021. The advanced technology of the helmet and processor provides pilots and crews with line-of-sight tracking to improve interaction with the flight navigation system, enhance pilot and co-pilot situational awareness, and increase the accuracy of weapons delivery.

Raytheon has been awarded a $199 million contract to supply various missiles to the US Navy and allied partner nations. The deal includes orders for 317 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles in addition to 199 Block II captive air training missiles to be used during military exercises. Raytheon will also deliver spares and supporting equipment to several foreign military sales customers including Indonesia, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Romania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland, South Korea, Norway, Morocco, Japan, Denmark, Finland, Israel and Singapore; work will be completed by March 2020. The munitions have been integrated on F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin and the US Navy have tested the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) for the first time. The missile was launched from a Super Hornet aircraft during a jettison test that aimed to validate its air-to-ground capabilities. Developed to replace the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), the company added that the weapon will provide the Navy with more effective combat capabilities in maritime battlefields, noting the missile is ideal for tactical operations.

Boeing received a $41 million contract modification to provide services for F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft operated by US foreign military sales customers. The deal will see the company undertake supplying engineering services, provisioning, information systems, training, and technical data updates. The contract supports planes operated by the governments of Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Switzerland, Canada and Spain. Work is expected to be completed by December 2017.

Middle East & North Africa

Royal Saudi Air Force pilots are to receive pay increases of up to 60% as the kingdom’s military intervention into neigboring Yemen enters its third year. The cabinet amended laws pertaining to military officers, allowing air force pilots and weapons operators to receive a 35% rise on basic salary and an increase for officers flying fighter jets and operating their weapons systems will be 60%. No reason was given for the move, but it does run contrary to a spate of recent austerity measures that were enforced to curb once benevolent Saudi public spending amid weak oil prices.

Europe

The Ukrainian aerospace industry reached an important milestone after the first aircraft built without Russian parts made its flying debut. Antonov’s AN-132D transport aircraft was first rolled out last December and was built in conjunction with several Western industrial partners from the UK, Germany, France, Canada, and the US with Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS, and Dowty Propellers. Between 260 and 290 aircraft will be built for Ukraine by 2025 and will also be license built in Saudi Arabia as the Tanqnia An-132.

London’s Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation examining allegations of war crimes conducted by Saudi Arabia in Yemen as UK Prime Minister Teresa May goes on a state visit to the Gulf kingdom. The force’s SO15 counter-terrorism unit revealed to a London human rights lawyer that it had launched a “scoping exercise” into the claims before Maj Gen Ahmed al-Asiri’s visit to the capital last week. The UK, which along with the US supports the Saudis against the Houthis, has been urged to reconsider its arms exports to Saudi Arabia in light of the bloody air campaign.

Asia Pacific

Thailand has approved the purchase of ten Chinese tanks in a deal worth $58 million. The purchase is the second of a planned three acquisitions of 49 tanks from China and will go toward replacing older US-made M41 light tanks. Relations have been strengthening between China and the US’ oldest ally in Southeast Asia, particularly since ties with the US cooled after a 2014 coup. In January, Bangkok gave the green light to the $380 million purchase of a submarine from China, and are contemplating adding three more.